Bevan Beats #6
by Ashley Hobley
Welcome to Bevan Beats! This is a fortnightly article and accompanying playlist from us at the Explosion Network. It lets us share the music we love, dive into a theme, or just highlight what’s in rotation day-to-day. You’ll find the playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Oh dear God. Is it already time for me to make another one of these? Where have the last eight weeks gone? While I ponder how time keeps slipping away, peruse this collection of tracks I’ve been loving (and a few I’ve revisited).
01) You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me — Alex Lahey
I stumbled across Alex Lahey recently and I’m glad I did. This up-tempo track with a tongue-twisting title is a fun listen, but make sure to check out the stripped-back version she did for triple j—amazing.
02) Better Off Without — Armon Jay
Heard this during the Netflix rom-com Set It Up (watch it, it’s good). Very simple, but it resonates.
03) Swing Life Away — Rise Against
I caught just a couple of songs when Rise Against opened for Foo Fighters years ago. Later I dug into their catalogue and this one stuck with me—I still revisit it regularly.
04) Death With Dignity — Sufjan Stevens
This played in The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, a touching little game. I had to track the song down after finishing.
05) Get Out — CHVRCHES
Dylan previously featured a track from CHVRCHES’ Love Is Dead. Coupled with Buddy Watson’s high praise, I dove in. I’ve played it so much that my little brother now requests this one on the school run so he can sing along.
06) Take a Walk — Passion Pit
Proof the Spotify algorithm works. It popped up when I forgot to set a playlist to repeat, and now I can’t help but bop along.
07) You in January (Acoustic) — The Wonder Years
I’m a sucker for acoustic versions. When I found the EP Burst & Decay, it went straight on repeat. I’ve tried the original on No Closer to Heaven, but this version wins for me.
08) High Hopes — Panic! At The Disco
From their sixth album Pray for the Wicked. This is a standout—Dying in LA is another highlight.
09) 3 Rounds and a Sound — Blind Pilot
I really like this song but couldn’t remember how I found it. A quick search: it’s in the Season 2 finale of Chuck (yes, more Chuck music—get used to it). It also plays under one of my favourite quotes: “Go with your heart, buddy. Our brains only screw things up.”
10) Latch — Kodaline
I love this cover of the Disclosure track (originally featuring Sam Smith). I actually heard this version first, and the original never clicked the same way.
11) Drown — Bring Me the Horizon
Included simply because I like it and relate to the lyrics. Not every note needs a thesis.
12) Pieces of the People We Love — The Rapture
Used in the opening credits of Episode 3 of Tales from the Borderlands, and my favourite of the five.
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Bevan Beats is a fun project about sharing and curating songs with one another. Want to put together a playlist and article for Bevan Beats? Email mail@explosionnetwork.com.
